Hole digging apparatus



v March l0, 1953 P. CJDARIN 2,631,013

HOLE DIGGING APPARATUS Filed April 1b, 194s 9 sheets-sheet 1 BY/0575A C.AR/A/ WWP, am

March 10,- 1953 i P. c. DARIN 2,631,013

Home: DIGGING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1948 9 sheets-sheet 2 IN VENTOR. Pfff/:2 C DA IQ/A/ March 10, 1953 P. c. DARIN 2,631,013

HOLE DIGGING APPARATUS .Filed April 19. 1948 9 Asheets-sheet :s

Q-; /2 INVENTOR.

March 1o, 1953 RQDARW 2,631,013

HOLE DIGGING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1948 9 Shee'ors-Sheet 4 1E 1E L ll5 l5 INVENTOR. lo a Pfff/a C AR/A/ March 10, 1953 P. c. DARIN.2,631,013

HOLE DIGGING APPARATUS.

Filed April 19, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 E I E11. E 1 E-...l l

IN VEN TOR. ,bf/f@ C @AR/N March 10, 1953 P. c. DARIN 2,631,013

HOLE DIGGING APPARATUS Filed April 19. 1948 9 Slleecs--SheeJfl 6 BY www@M3@ v 1 A NORA/frs March l0, 1953 P. c. DARIN 2,631,013

HOLE DIGGING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1948 9 sheets-sheet 7 E112-...El

ELE- El] INVENTOR.

72 M BYPf/*E C. DAR/N W 'l My March 10, 1953 P. c. 4DARIN 2,631,013

HOLE DIGGING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1948 9 Sheebs-Sheerl 8 E IIE- E Ezo? 2z EE a5 INVEN TOR. Pfff/e. C A/e//v March 10, 1953 P. c. DARIN2,631,013

HOLE DIGGING APPARATUS Filed April 19. 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 m \9 N C 8o O N d. cu E l u] O i N [U 9 N l S n1 [h l'I I-l o 'm t N 5 a S E w rud O O N W o g. N O LU s s INVENTOR. Pfff@ 20A/wv Patented Mar. 10, 1953HoLE DIGGING APPARATUS Peter C. Darin, Detroit, Mich., assignor to.Darin. & Armstrong Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application VApril 19, 1943; SvervialNo. 21,887#10 Claims. (Cl. Z55- 719) kThepresentinvention relates to hole diggingapparatus- ,It is an object of the vpresent invention to provideholedigging apparatus carried by a crane mounted'on a truck.

4It is aviurther object to provide hole digging apparatus including abucket having dump doors adapted Ato `be opened by the operator when thebucket is at any predetermined height.`

It is a further object of the present invention to provide holel diggingapparatus comprising a rotatable bucket. having bottom digging bladescarried by bottom dump doors.

It isa vfurther object of the present invention to provide hole diggingapparatus comprising a vertical driveshaft carrying at its lower end adigging bucket, the shaft being supported from adjacent its top by arotary thrust bearing.

tis a further object of the present invention to provide hole diggingapparatus comprising a bucket havingbottom dump doors in which thebucket may be raised or lowered as desired and the doors may be openedand closed as desired, each independently of the. other.

Itis a further object of the present invention to provide a hole diggingapparatus comprising a bucket having bottom digging bladesand havingoutwardly movable side digging blades adapted to enlarge the holelaterally at any point in its depth.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide hole diggingapparatus comprising av vertically movable bucket, bottom dump doors onthe bucket, and. laterally movable. side digging blades on the bucket incombination with means for opening and closingthe bottom dump doors,

openingand closing the side` cutting blades, and

raising and lowering the bucket, inwhich each or` these operations maybe carried out independently of theothers,

, Other objects andfeatures of the invention will become, apparent asthe description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying; drawings, wherein:

Figure l is aside elevation of the, lower portion of the hole diggingapparatus,

Figure2 is a fragmentary enlarged section on tneline 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure isa, side elevation of the upper portion oithe holev diggingapparatus, Figures l and 3 togetherY illustrating the ycompleteVapparatus.

Figure. 4 isa Viront elevationof the top portion of the hole diggingapparatus illustrated in Figure 3. 'l

Figure 5 is a vside elevation with vparts broken away of the rotarythrust bearing employedin the 'apparatus Figure 6 is. a sectionon thelinev 6 6V oi Fig,.- ure, 5.

Figure lois an enlarged verticalsection on the line 1 1 of Figure 1.

FigureSis a perspective view of the mecha; nismfor transmitting torqueto the vertcalshavft.

Figure, 9Y is a vertical section through the bucket.

Figure 10. is a Ihorizontal section. through the bucket on thelinelt-flli of Figure 9. A

Figure 11 is a. horizontal section through the bucketon the line Il-vli`of'ligurei).y

Figure 12V is a horizontal section throughthe bucket on the linev I2-,l2of Figure 9. f

Figure 13` is a horizontal section'through the bucket on the line l-IYSof Figure 9, iny which gure, however, the bottom dump doors areillustrated in closed position'.

Figure 14 is a perspective viewof one ofthe bottom dumpdoorsdisassembledfrom the bucket.

Figure 15 Iis a horizontalse'ction through. the bucket onthe'line.15.-!5 of FigureB. l

Figure. 16, isv a horizontal section throughthe bucket onthe, line18..-I5. of Figure 9.

Figure. l1'7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating theattachment offone of the rotating cablesto thecontrol wheel. A i Figure1:8Y is va horizontal' section. similar to Figure `16 showing the side.cuttingv blades inopen orextended position.

Figure 1'9'is a fragmentary perspectivev of the supporting spiderseen'in Figure 1 f Figure 20 is a section on the line 2li-,2.0 of Figurev12. y n

Figure y2,1 is a perspective View of the bucket with the bottom dumpdoors closed and theside cutting blades in opelbQSition. Y' v FigureV2'2 vis.af'section on the line 2,2-22 of Figure 18. n

Figure 231s a vertical section through a second embodiment of thepresent'invention.

A1ig`ure24i is a"'section on the line 2li-,2,4 of Figure`23.v

' Figure 25 'is a section on the line 25-1-25 of Figure 23,v and Figure26 'is a section on the line 26-26 o1' Figurev23.

The present invention was designed particularly to-fdig relatively largeholes rapidly.V Itis particularly useful in construction work where itis desired to provide concrete piles or columns having. a `spreadfooting orf mat.' Accordingly, thepresent apparatus providesfmeansVfordigging a relativelylarge. hole as. for example. five feet indiameter to asubstantial depth as for- .example ten feet, afte1..which.the bottom ofl the "holei is laterally. enlarged by a substantialamount, as Vfor example to a diameter of ten feet. Concrete is thenpoured into the hole and provides a rm foundation inasmuch as it spreadslaterally to provide a mat of extended area which carries the supportingcolumn thereon.

Preferably the hole digging apparatus of the present invention ismounted upon a truck supported crane so that it may be moved quicklyfrom position to position and the crane may be moved to locate thedigging apparatus at the precise point selected.

Briefly described the invention comprises a bucket having one or morebottom dump doors hinged thereto, the doors being provided with cuttingedges effective to move earth from the bottom of the hole upon rotationof the bucket and to force the earthrinto the bucket. The bucket ispositively rotated through a vertical shaft of non-circular crosssection and may be raised and lowered in conjunction with the shaft. Theshaft itself is supported at its top by a rotary thrust bearing. Thesides of the bucket are formed to provide a plurality of outwardly mov-Rotation is imparted to the bucket through the Y medium of the verticalshaft in any position of vertical adjustment. Aside from rotation of theshaft the control of the other functions thereof is eifected completelythrough two cables, one of which is connected to raise and lower thevertical shaft and the other of which is connected directly to thebottom dump doors. If both cables are raised simultaneously, the bucketwill be raised without affecting the position of the bottom dump doors.If the cable suspending the shaft is stationary, the doors may be openedand closed in any vertical position of the bucket by raising andlowering the cables connected to the doors. Mechanism is provided whichis dependent upon relative vertical movement between the bucket andvertical shaft for eiecting in and out movement of the side cuttingblades. Accordingly, if the bucket is suspended from the cablesconnected to the bottom dump doors, the side cutting blades may beopened or closed by vertical movement of the shaft, and as will beapparent this may take place in any position of the bucket and f abovethe ground or at any desired depth in the hole.

It is accordingly possible to sink the hole to any desired depth,removing the earth by periodically raising the bucket and dropping theearth Y therefrom. When the hole has reached its predetermined depth theside cutting blades may be opened to any desired extent while the bucketis rotating so as to enlarge the hole laterally. This operation forcesthe earth removed by the side cutting blades into the bucket and thebucket may be raised to dump this' earth after the side cutting bladeshave been moved to closed position. With the foregoing generaldescription in mind,

the apparatus wil now be described in detail in conjunction with theseveral figures. The hole digging apparatus is preferably mounted on atruck such as indicated at I0 in the Figure 1 which includes a cab IIand a pivot support I2 for a boom I3. At the upper portion of the boomare a plurality of sheaves I4, I5 and I6 over which F lead cables Il, I8and I9 respectively. Oneco 'the cables as for example the cable I8 whichruns over vthe sheave I5 is appropriately secured to theA boom and isemployed to raise and lower the boom in a well known manner.

The cab is provided with drums DI, D2, and D3 for cables Il, I8, and ISrespectively, controlled by levers LI, L2, and L3. If the levers LI andL3 controlling the drums DI and D3 on which cables Il and I9 are woundare moved in the same direction in unison, the blocks raised and loweredby these cables will move upwardly or downwardly in synchronism. Cranesof the type described above are disclosed in Patent No. 1,641,926 toGenung and accordingly, details of the operation of the crane are notdisclosed here- The cables Il and I9 suspend the hole digging apparatusas will be described subsequently in detail and are adapted to effectfull control thereof with the exception of rotating the diggingapparatus.

The hole digging apparatus comprises a generally cylindrical bucket 2Bwhich is non-rotatably engaged with a vertical shaft 22, the shaft beingof non-circular and perferably of square cross section. The bucket 2i)is provided With a, plurality of downwardly swinging bottom dump doors2li and a plurality of extensible side cutting blades 26.

For ordinary digging the bucket 2U is rigidly secured to the shaft 22for both rotation and vertical movement therewith. The upper end of theshaft 22 is supported for rotation by a thrust bearing 28, the bearing28 being suspended from a bridle 3b which in turn is suspended by a hookBI carried by a pulley block 32. The pulley block 32 is in turnsuspended from the cable I9 and is adapted to be raised and loweredthereby.

The bearing 28 is suspended from a bridle 30 by a pair of short cablelengths 35, these latter being connected to the bearing by clevises 35detachably connected to upstanding ears 3l as well illustrated inFigures 3 and 4. The bottom dump doors 24 each have connected theretocables 42! which extend upwardly through the bucket and through thebearing 28, above which they are connected to an equalizer bar 4I whichin turn is suspended from the hook 42 swiveled to the bottom of a block43. The block d3 is in turn suspended from the cable Il by means ofwhich it may be raised or lowered either independently of orsimultaneously with the block 32.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the assembly made up ofthe vertical shaft 22 and the bucket 26 may be suspended in stationaryrelation at any height while the bottom dump doors 24 are opened orclosed.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the bearing 28 is illustrated indetail. This bearing comprises a disc 5B to which are welded theupstanding ears 3l, each of which is apertured to receive a pin 5Ipassing through the clevises 35 previously referred to. The bearingincludes an internal sleeve 55 to which are secured ball races E6 and 5lagainst which the ball bearings 58 roll. The disc 59 is provided withthe races 59a and 59h engaging the opposite sides of the balls 58.Extending across the upper open end of the sleeve 55 is a bar SB. Thevertical shaft 22 is provided at its upper end with a pair of apereminem-fs at *a predetermined height cn the lower fportlon iofitheboom 13 isavp'latform 65. One Aend Lof the -laitform l'is v'bolted 'or otherwise`secured fto @the boom fas vvindicated `at 6'6 and the connection'mayibe raised or lowered talong the lloocnna's yde- ;'s'ired "to varythe height of A'the ",platform. vThe -"opposite enel of the `-'platformmay-be 'suspended *from the "boom 'fby "appropriate means (not shown)Mounted 'on the platform ilili Iis an in- Vternal combustion Iengine orelectric -mo'tor "It yyi'liih"is-emlo'loye'd Lto eiect rotationofithebucke't "2U, 'Theexac't means'o'f 'transmittingpower fromthe'eng'ine E'Hl to the shaftZ-Z s`immaterial but .in the ,presentinstance there'is'illustrated aibelt .or -chain TI vdriven'by theengineand-driving a n'otaryipart 'i12 to `which .-'is 'conne`cted a 'sprocketI3 which 'drives a 'larger "sprocket M through "a medium of-'a.chain'15. 'Driven-bythe `sprocket 1114 'cls a vbevel fgear 76 -meshing`with a l'second 'hevelgear l"I8connected'to"afgear 'lsvvhich drivesailarge driving Agear '80. 'Any rvsuitablefrneans for rconvr-:y'ingpower from vvthe motor Vor `engine '-19 *to the drive gear -80 may besubstituted.

The drive gearf is provided with Va -rlurality -'of `brackets 8i`between lwhich are vlmounted grooved rollers 'l-2 "the groovesbeingA`provided "for :10, 11, .112, 1'3, `14 fand -15, .is iprovidedfacross`its open top with a pair of crossing fsupport `ystruts S9 lwhichfare.herein :illustrated ras '-H :shaped ycross section. ASecured centrallyof the bucket by the struts :9B :is a -sleeve 9i Aof Fsquare -crosssection fthroughwhich the `.lower .endof the shaft #-22 sextends When.it is desired lto prevent relative verticalzmovement .between the shaft..22 -and .the

.bucket, apin AS32 .-is .passed through .two .aligned i 'openingsformedin thesleeve l .andtheshaft 22.

Pivotally securedto .the open underside of .the bucket 2B are a pair .ofdump doors .24, each .of which .isyprovided with ahingeconnection AHM,

rand each @of which 4includes la :digging .blade .11.02

:preferalcily formed .of hardened steel. .Each :of fthe l:bottom doors24 .is .cut .away las indicated .at :H13 .to form an opening 4.94.through .which earth removed bythe `blade fm2 :of .the opposite door.may nassto the interior .of the'bucket. AEach vof .the .doors2.is,..provided .with .a ringnrithe like 1.85 .to which one .of thecables Midis connected. Obviously when -the shaft `22 and bucket '2B.are Y.maintained in stationary position, the "doors v24 may Ybe openedor closed `by actuation 'of 'the cable .|.1 `which aiectsverticalmovement of the egualizerbar @Il 'andhence raises 'or'loWers thedoor controlling cables E0.

With the mechanism 'thus 'far "described yit is possible to dig holeso'f a size equal 'to fthe-di ameter 'of abucket, -to raise Athe ldirt`from `the lhole .and 'hy 'swinging fthe .-crane, to more the bucketraway "from th'e hole. 'If `it Ais desired to Adurnpth'econtentsofthelbuketintoatruckithe platform B5 vmay gbe secured fto the Vi-boom "itat '6 siileientiheight to permit the hucket .10 'tto be 'raised-so 'that`a'truck may be driven under lit. "If it is `satisfactory lto dump .itheearth ;on ethe `vground 'the Abucket fneed-be :raised only .sucientlyabove the hole to clear it.

`With the bucket .and shalt 422 raised iclear of the V"hole, the .earth`may be dumped Asimply iby *lowering 'the :pulley lblock 132.' LIn.'order y'to `profvde 'the Vhole lin 4the .exact location desired s it:iis preferable to usela guide-ring ll 0 whichxmay Aloe -'staked 'to theground by stakes 'indicated V'at lil'fl. J1Thisi-.m'eans .the bucket 20.may he guided into 4rexact position as "the hole is dug.

'In' many cases -.itis de'sirak'le l'to i provide arh'ole'ihavinglthershapeillustratediin Figure .1. In .this flguretheholeisillustratedfas comprisingaxverl'tical side 1 portion l |15 Aandran Loutwardly enlarged "bottom portion H6. This shane of hole'zisparticularly desirabl'ezin .construction'work 1in which `concrete -piles.or columns :are provided to 'sup- 'port the building. :In practice "they:holle...isfflilled Ywith concrete. The laterally enlarged vportion H6provides'a foot or pad of increased area 4which increases the weightwhichthe'columncansupport. It has been 'the practice-inthezpastto A.dig`the hole either by im'echanical .means -or fother- Wiseiand thereafter"to enlargexthe bottomfof the -lrole to'fprovidespaceforthefpadby'manual labor. :This rinvolve's lnot zonly extraexpense but :it :is :hazardous vand unpleasarit AiWork 'which lis 'com-'pletely I.avoided Lby the present invention.

Broadly described, thernechanism :forllaterally V'enlarging Athe :bottomfof 7.the hole :comprises #side digging blades which preferably are vforzn'edfof `portionsrofthe sides of the bucketradjacentfthefbottomtheredf. :Theseiblades are pivotedito :the 'bucket land are'.'adanted vto abe ."forc'ed outwardly :as the .bucket :.is rotated'atthe/.bottom ofthe hole thereby cutting .earth:laterallyiand'orcingitinto the rotating bucket. .The:meehanismfor'accom- .plishing this result iis "illustrated particularly.in F-igures 9and 15422.

The side digging blades are l'illustrated uat y2li .iin Figure '9 -andithey arepivoted to the wbucket alongan inclined ipivotfaxis klasfindicat'e'd "at I"2I.

vThe lblades V-have downwardly extending tips i122 fand front and "topticuttizng AVedges |23 fand .1'24 'refspectively. When vthe l'blades:are Y'extended outwardly as villustrated in fFigure .21, they act :asboth cutting edges f and'scoo'ps Vfor moving .the cut :earth v'inwardlyinto the .interior of the bucket. .Itwill be understood that duringlateral-enlargeimentof `the fhole, fthe vbottom-'dump doors 24 :areipre'ferably closed andthebucketz''is maintained :fat aiuniform height.

The l mechanism "for opening f and closing the 'lateral cutting vblades'25 'depends upon irelative vertical movement'betwe'en fthe "shaft '.22'and the bucket 20. Accordingly, when lit is desired'to -"operate thelateral :cutting blades, the'pin'92 is lremovedto rpermitrelativevvertical movement fbetweenshaftfzz anufbucketzu.

While different sp'ec'iiic mechanisms may he Zemployed fto 'convert'relative vertical lmovernent rbetween the bucketandshait" into lateralin and fout movement 'of theside cutting blades, -a prefferred form ofmechanism is .iillustra'ted 4"in 'the "guresunder"discussion,

v Across thebottom of .lth'esbucketis Aa cross vbar il Sn'fto'whichisrotatablyfsecured :an: assembly 'for lreflecting lateral .in.zand-.outimovementof the iside cuttingfblad'es 2.6.vv'Thismechanismcomprises a inl-ate 132 which ispivo'tedato `crossiloar'fl 30 .bysuit- :able means :such as rfa .bolt i133. Extendingiupiwardlyznmuzheiplate :1.132 and fweldedfor @there wise rigidlysecured thereto is a tubular sleeve |35. A bearing |36 is providedthrough which the pivot bolt |33 extends. As shown, bearing |36 iswelded to plate |32 and sleeve |35, and rotates on cross bar |30.

The upper end of the sleeve |35 is supported in a ring |31 carried by aspider structure |38 secured to the inner surface of the bucket 20. Thering |31 forms a steadying support for the rotatable sleeve |35. Rigidlysecured to the sleeve |35 above the ring |31 is a control wheel |40. Thewheel is provided with a peripheral groove as indicated at |4| aroundportions of which actuating cables extend. Since the wheel |40 rotateswith respect to the bucket 20, means must be provided for permittingpassage of the bottom dump door controlling cables 40 therethrough andthis means is illustrated as taking the form of elongated arcuate slots|43, best seen in Figure 10.

The first of the actuating cables is indicated at |45, one end of whichis secured to the bottom of the shaft 22 as indicated at |46. The cable|45 leads upwardly through the sleeve |35 and over a pulley |41 which isillustrated as secured to the underside of the web |48 of one of thestruts 90. Thence the cable |45 leads downwardly over a pulley |43appropriately secured to .the inner wall of the bucket as by thesupporting bracket |50. The cable |55 thereafter leads around theperiphery of the control wheel |40 in a clockwise direction as viewed inFigure 10, and its end is secured to the wheel as by a bracket |52 and aclevis connection |53. A second control cable |66 is secured to theshaft 22 some distance above the top of the bucket 20 as indicated at|6| in Figure 1. Cable |60 leads downwardly around a pulley |62 securedto the underside of one of the struts as illustrated in Figure 9.Thereafter, the cable passes around a second pulley |65 which is securedto the inner surface of the bucket as by a bracket |66, and as best seenin Figure l0, the cable |60 leads around the grooved periphery of thewheel |40 in a counterclockwise direction and is secured to the wheel bymeans of a clevis connection or the like |63 secured to a bracket |65.It will be apparent from an inspection of Figures 9 and l0 a turningmovement to the wheel |40 in a counterclockwise direction as seen inFigure 10. This motion is permitted since the cable |60 is payed out tothe wheel |40 by the same movement. As the shaft 22 is moved from thedotted line to the full line positiony the force is applied upwardly tothe cable |60 which rotates the wheel |40 in a clockwise direction asseen in Figure l0.

Rotation of the wheel is imparted to the sleeve |35 and thence to theplate |32. Referring now to Figure 16 the mechanism for transferingrotary movement of the plate |32 to in and out movement of the sidecutting blades 26 will be described. To each end of the plate |32 ispivoted an actuating arm |10, this arm at its opposite end beingconnected by a universal joint |1| to the inner surface of a sidecutting blade 26 adjacent its forward edge. Rotation of the plate |32 ina counterclockwise direction in Figure 16 provides a toggle action whichswings the side cutting blades outwardly to the position illustrated inFigure 18. In order to provide for maximum opening, the arms |10 attheir inner ends are provided with an oiset portion |12, theconstruction of which is illustrated in Figure 22. The offset portion|12iis illustrated as comprising a separate piece pivoted to the plate|32 as by a bolt |13 and the arm |10 is illustrated as welded thereto.It will be recalled that the side cutting blades 26 are provided withpivot axes which are inclined from the vertical as well illustrated inFigures 9 and 21. This necessitates the provision of the universalconnection |1| previously referred to. In practice. satisfactory resultsmay be obtained by providing a loose connection between the outer end ofthe arm |10 and the inner surface of the side cutting blades 26.

If desired, suitable stop means may be provided for limiting the amountof opening of the side cutting blades. Such means are illustrated inFigures 11 and 19 and take the form of a stop pin |15 mounted on thering |31 and a pair of pins |16 and |11 carried by the sleeve |35 inposition to engage the stop pin |15 rst on one side and then on theother. By this means rotation of the control wheel |40 is limited tosomewhat less than 180. If it is desired to limit the rotation of thecontrol wheel |40 to a lesser arc, a pair of pins such as |15 may bepositioned as required.

Referring now to Figures 12 and 20 there is shown-in detail the mountingfor the pulley |41 and |62. vSince these are identical only one will bedescribed Ain detail. The strut 60 which was previously described and isof H shaped cross section has a web |48 which is slotted to receive apair of side guard plates between which the sheave |41 is mounted. Thesheave is Vmounted for rotation on a pin- |8| extending through pillowblocks- |82 boltedor otherwise secured to the underside of the web |46.

It will be observed that the side cutting blades 26 extend completely tothe bottom of the bucket 20 so that the lateral enlargement 'of the holemay be provided in alignment with the extreme bottom of the hole.

Referring now to Figures 23-26, there is illustrated a slightlydifferent embodiment of the invention which differs in the specificmechanism for transforming the relative sliding movement between theshaft 22 and the bucket 20 into inward and outward movement of the sidecutting blades 26. In this case instead of depending upon a controlwheel such as |40, toggle bars 200 are provided which are pivoted to across head 20| rigidly secured to the underside of the shaft 22. Thecross head 20| is pivoted to the lower end of the shaft 22 as forexample by a loose nut and bolt connection illustrated at 202. The lowerends of the toggle bar 200 are provided with universal joint connections203 to the inner surface of the side cutting blades 26 adjacent theirfree ends. Inasmuch as the side cutting blades are constrained to movein definite paths, downward movement of the shaft 22 will result inoutward swinging of the side cutting blades 26 and in a correspondingrotation of the cross head 20|. l

In this case the inner construction of the bucket is somewhatsimplified, there being provided only the cross struts 205 which areillustrated in Figure 24 as being of H shape and meeting to support asquare collar 206 through which the shaft 22 is vertically slidable. Thecollar 206 is apertured to receive a pin 201 which is adapted to passthrough a corresponding aperture adjacent the lower end yof the shaft 22.so

as.to.preyent.relative vertical movement between the shaft 22; and .thebucket 20;;

The. detailed construction ofthe cross head 201i is best' seen. in.FigureA 25 in which; it' will be .observedthat it comprises-*laterallyextending arms. lj in the ends of which' areY received threaded eyelets2Hy which support pivotV pins 21.2; The ends of' the'togglebars/253i?`arepivoted to the pins'. 2|2; In orderitol preventinterference between.the' togglebars'll; onel of4 thebars designated 200e. in FigureA 25Vis'narrowerf' at its pivotj endthan the other andl extends-into'thespace. between the outside bars;2l3 andM Zilliof the toggle bar 200iFrom. the foregoing description; the operation off theV apparatus shouldbe'. apparent but` for completeness` itJ willbe reviewed. Anv operatorseated in the' cab H' hasfbeforehinr three levers LIL2L3,. each of whichcontrolsone ofA the drums D|`, D2; D3', to wlfiichitlfie cablesl l1, i8and i9 aresecured. In additionghe isv preferably provided with. remotecontrol'I means for'the engine or motor T'so. thatrotation of the'bucket mayr be under hiscontrol. The cabl also of course containscontrols forv effecting rotary movement ofthe cab and'boom l3- aboutavertical axis.

If the apparatus is. to be employed forostraight drilling,V relative`vertical. movement between the bucket 20' andthe shaft 22". isprevented" by the insertion.V of' the,A pin 92; Assume that the dumpdoorsA 213.V are, closed and the bucket' is located vertically over the,hole tobe dug. At this time the operator moves the levers L'i and Linthe same directionsoas. topay out the cables IT and i9 at the same rate.Ilhis will result in vertical downward movementof-A thel bucket until itcontacts the ground or the bottom of the hole. The cables are'paidloutslightly further so that the dead weight of the bucket 2G andtheshaft rests upon theearthand provides theforce necessary to cause thebottom cutting blades to dig in. Whenadesired amountcf earth has beenremoved andforced into, the. bucket, the operator moveslevers LI and L3in the oppositedi-rection seras .to raise the bucket 26. When thebucket2l) vhas beenelevated to the desired,height-.the.b.oom litv is rotatedtc move the bucket awayrfrom'the hole. Thereafter the operator may causethe bottom doors 24 to open by moving theflever- L3 sol-as to lower theblock '32 or alternativel-y'the lever LL so as to further raisetheblock-d3., In either; event there is a relative vertical.` movementbetween the block 32 and.3s3rwhichwillfpermit the, doors 24V to swingdowmvardlyfof;A their own weight and to dump the earth contained in thebucket 20.

The doors 24 may be closed by moving the lever L3 in a direction toraise the block S3 while the block 32 is stationary or the lever Li maybe moved to lower the block 32 while the block t3 is maintainedstationary. As soon as the doors are closed the levers LI and L3 aremoved in unison to cause the bucket to again be lowered in diggingrelation.

When the hole has been dug to the proper depth by the method outlinedabove, the bucket is raised and the pin 92 is removed so as to permitrelative vertical slight movement between the bucket 2G and shaft 22.When this pin is removed, the doors 24 are retained closed as outlinedabove and the bucket assembly is lowered into the bottom of the hole.With the bucket resting on the bottom of the hole, the lever L is movedin a direction to lower the block 32 thereby permitting the weight ofthe shaft 22 to operate on the mechanism for opening;I theflsidecut-ting; blades. Theamount ofi opening-f of; the blades` iscontrolledby the amountwhich.. the block 32is lowered- Normallythisfwfilllbe agrad; ualoperation and the-hole willbdbelledfoutiatithebottomA toits iul-lfextent 'after theshaft: 22f:is flow;

ered themanimunrpermissibleamcunta @fcoursev ifilessthanthe maximumpermissible bellingis required or desired; further downward-:movementofthe shaft' 2* is arrested: at the: desi-redy point; Further digging;bythe bottomcuttingsY blades wil-lbe prevented by suspending the bucketas; semblyfrom-thedoor controlling Acables 40a: Dur.- ingthe-bellingoperation', when: the buckethas received a desired-i amount-rofearth,therv side: cute ting-blades 23%? lare clbsedbyxraisingI the shaftz22and; when the-doors are closed; leversC L'. I'. andiLB 'areoperatingin-unisornto `cause synchronouszvers ticaltmovernent' of, the blocksfandi 43250 aszto Velevateethe bucket'- outl of' the hole. After:- thebucket has: beenesw'ung away'. fromthehole, the doors- 24# mayy beopenedas previouslyf described; after which they may-be closed; the bucket.reialigned with-the-hole; Iandiloweredito thebottom ofy the hole forcontinuation of` the helling-'process as just described; v The drawingsand theA` foregoingI speci'catio constitute a description of theimproved. hole digging apparatus in-suchfull,v clear, concise-and exactterms as to enable any'person skilled in the art to practicetheinvention, the scope offwhich is-ind-icated by the appendediclaims.Whatl claim-as my invention is--: 1. In a boring device, a boring;bucketthaving a bottom dump door'h-inged thereto,Y a-v vertical ro tarydrive shaft L ot' non-circular cross-section connectedI tosaid bucket, arotarydrive `men-rter having a non-circulan opening throughA which saidshaft:r is slidable, a= cable secured tofsaid door-for openingandclosi'ng saieldoorf, a roller carried by said drivernernberl andvengaging; said shalt, said roller shapedtodene with-saidshaft avpassageinwhich said cable is vertically` movr abre.

2: Inra boring; device, a boring-s1 bucket having a bottomdumpdoonhmgedthereto, a vertical rotaryv drive shaft of non-circulancross-sectionconnected to said bucket, aA rotary drivernember having a non-circularopening through which said shaft is' slidable, a cablesecureci1 to saiddoor for'opening and` closing said; doorn-fa roller carried by saladriveA memberv and engagingsaid shaft; said roller grooved to denne;witn'gsaid shaft a passage in which saidlcable-is vertically movable: Y

3': In a` boringdefvice; a boringbucket having a pair of bottom dumpdoors hinged thereto, a vertical rotary drive shat of non-circularcrosssection connected to said bucket, a rotary drive member having anon-circular opening through which said shaft is slidable, a cablesecured to each of said doors for opening and closing said doors,rollers carried by said drive member and engaging said shaft, saidrollers grooved to define with said shaft passages in which said cableis vertically movable.

4. Boring apparatus comprising a crane having a cab and an adjustableboom, a platform on said boom, a rotary drive gear on said platform,said gear having an opening therethrough, a vertical drive shaftslidable in said opening, means on said gear for rotating said shaft, aboring bucket non-rotatably engaged with the lower end of said shaft, abottom dump door hinged to said bucket,

a bearing at the upper end of said shaft supporting said shaft andbucket and movable vertically with said shaft the extent required towithdraw the bucket from a hole being dug, first pulley means includinga pulley carried by said boom for supporting said bearing, a cableconnected to said door and extending upwardly through said platform to apoint above said bearing, second pulley means including a pulley carriedby said boom and having a swivel connection to said cable, said pulleymeans including drums in said cab and control means for said drumseffective to produce selectively independent rotation of said drums ineither direction and synchronous rotation of said drums in eitherdirection.

5. Earth boring apparatus for boring vertical holes laterally enlargedat their bottom comprising a rotary bucket having combined bottomcutting blades and downwardly opening hinged dump doors, and hingedoutwardly swinging side cutting blades, a vertical drive shaft forrotating said bucket, means providing for limited relative verticalmovement between said bucket and said shaft, and toggle mechanismconnected to said bucket and shaft and actuated by said relativemovement for opening and closing said side cutting blades, saidmechanism comprising a rotary part, levers pivoted to said part andconnected to said side cutting blades, cable means wound around saidpart and connected to said bucket and said shaft, and independentlyoperable vertically movable suspension means connected to said shaft andto said combined bottom cutting blades and dump doors. Y 6. Earth boringapparatus comprising a bucket having a pivoted bottom dump door andlaterally movable side cutting blades, a vertical drive shaft having arotary driving connection with said bucket, ,said bucket and shaft beingrelatively -vertically movable, mechanism connected to said bucket,shaft and blades and operated by relative vertical movement between saidshaft and bucket for effecting lateral movement of said side cuttingblades, first cable means connected to said shaft and eective to raiseand lower said shaft, ,second cable means connected to said bottom doorand effective to open and close said bottom doorl and to raise and lowersaid bucket relative to said shaft.

7. Apparatus as dened in claim 6 including a drum for each of said cablemeans, and control means for said drums for selectively effectingsynchronous or independent actuation of said drums in either direction.

8. Apparatus asv defined in claim 6 in which said second cable means areconnected directly to said bottom door.

9. In apparatus for laterally enlarging bored holes in the earth, avertically movable drive shaft, a bucket at the lower end thereof, meansconnecting said bucket and shaft for relative vertical movementindependently operated cable means for effecting vertical movement ofsaid shaft and bucket and relative vertical movement between said shaftand bucket, side digging blades extensible from said bucket, a pulley insaid bucket, a pair of cables around said pulley and having oppositeends connected respectively to said bucket and said pulley, and saidshaft and said pulley, and lever means connected to said pulley andoperated by rotation of said pulley for extending or retracting saidblades, said bucket f having bottom cutting blades and bottom dumpdoors, and means for opening and closing said doors.

10. Hole boring apparatus comprising a crane, a pair of hoisting drumson said crane, means for rotating said drums independently orsynchronously in either direction, a boom, a cable operatively connectedto each of said drums and including portions depending from said boom, arotary bearing suspended directly from one of said cables, a rigidshaf-t of non-circular crosssection rotatably suspended from saidbearing, a rotary drive element on said crane having a noncircularopening through which said shaft is slidable, a boring bucket on thebottom of said shaft, a dump door hinged to the bottom of said bucket,and swivel means suspended directly from the other of said cables andconnected directly to said door.

PETER C. DARIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 19,281 Schroeder Aug. 21,1934 Re. 21,241 Bertran et al Oct. 24, 1939 1,103,518 Kline July 14,1914 1,325,638 Healey Dec. 23, 1919 1,641,926 Genung Sept. 6, 19271,726,565 Hunt Sept. 3, 1929 1,731,732 Terrell Oct. 15, 1929 1,870,050Hunt Aug. 2, 1932 1,905,995 Bertran Apr. 25, 1933 1,916,688 Smith July4, 1933 1,999,115 Shinn Apr. 23, 1935 2,000,195 Siebel May 7, 19352,178,852 Dunlap Nov. 7, 1939

